Uncategorized
Lynx Brutality 2024 Overview w/ Jari of Varusteleka
Lynx Brutality 2024 is a wrap! Full match videos are coming in a couple days, but for now Jari and I will give you a brief overview of how the match went and what kit […]
Articles by Ian McCollum
Semiauto pistol
Arsenal Strike One: Russian Police Pistol Comes to the West
The Strike One pistol originated around 2011 as a collaboration between Nicola Bandini and Dimitry Streshinskiy as a pistol to replace the Makarov in Russian police use. By 2014 is was progressing very successfully through […]
Accessories
New Reproduction Colt 4x AR-15 Scope by Brownells
In the 1970s and 80s, Colt offered a 4×20 fixed power scope for its commercial AR (the SP-1). These replaced the earlier 3x scopes, and were designed to fit directly to the rifle’s carry handle. […]
Competition
BUG Match Pickelhaube Edition: German 1883 Reichsrevolver
Today I took a Model 1883 Reichsrevolver out to the monthly BackUp Gun Match. This is an 1894-manufactured gun (made at the Erfurt Arsenal). It is a single action only, six-shot revolver chambered for the […]
Semiauto pistol
Cartridge History: The .451 Detonics Magnum is a Supercharged .45 ACP
Detonics was founded as a company in the 1970s, making high-end 1911 pistols. Their first product that really put them on the map was their 3″ micro-compact 1911; something that just wasn’t available on a […]
Submachine Guns
Sten MkI & MkI*: The Original Plumber’s Nightmare
The Sten gun was designed by RSAF Senior Draftsman (sorry, Draughtsman) Harold Turpin in December, 1940. He sketched out a simple trigger mechanism on December 2, showed it to Major Reginald Shepherd the next day, […]
Conversion
McCann Industries MAS 49/56 in the Elbonian Royal Air Service
Elbonian Royal Air Service merch: https://www.varusteleka.com/en/product/forgotten-weapons-royal-air-service-elbonia-t-shirt-cotton/78756 In the early 2000s, the Elbonian Royal Air Service was looking for an aerial interdiction rifle – something to arm snipers in dirigibles, for shooting down light aircraft and […]
Conversion
Modernizing Le Clairon: the FAMAS Valorise
The FAMAS was the best bullpup rifle of its era, but it was a difficult platform to modernize with optics. In 1995, the “FELIN” (Fantassin à Équipement et Liaisons INtégrés; Integrated Infantry Equipment and Communications) […]
Interview
The Truth Behind the One Chinese Red Dot Factory
At SHOT Show this year Ian took some time to speak with Mike Branson of Gideon Optics (formerly of Primary Arms and Swampfox). Mike’s a friend and a true optics nerd, and I figured he […]
Antiques
Enjoying Black Powder Episode 1: The Trapdoor Springfield
For the full episode with the hand loading instructional section, click here: https://forgottenweapons.vhx.tv/videos/trapdoor-app-cut Black powder military rifles of the 1860s-1880s are a really enjoyable group of guns. A lot of them are relatively reasonably priced, […]